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Hello! I am not sure if I am posting in the correct forum, so please feel free to redirect me if need be.
My question is, I am transcribing a literary text about the history of music, and there are just a few occasions throughout the text that a time signature is discussed. (for example, 4 over 4 and, 6 over 8, appearing like fractions but without the fraction line.) Can you give me some suggestions to transcribe these, please.
Thank you.
Susan
Hi Susan,
This requires a little bit of music braille knowledge, but is easy once you get it. If you get a hold of the Music Braille Code PDF, on page 2 you’ll find some helpful symbols.
Dots 6, 3 is the opening music code indicator
Dots 56, 23 is the music code terminator.
A time signature is given with the upper number in the upper portion of the cell followed by the lower number in the lower portion of the cell. Only the initial numeric indicator is needed.
So, when you come across a time signature in a literary passage, use the opening music code indicator, then the numeric indicator followed by upper cell 4 and then lower cell 4 (or 6 and 8 or whatever the time signature is), and then put the music code terminator before the next literary word.
If the time signature is followed by punctuation, it gets a little more involved, so write back if that is the case!
Patrick
Thank you for your helpful, and speedy reply. And yes, there is punctuation (the comma and the period) following the time signatures. Do I use the punctuation indicator immediately prior to the punctuation, and then place the music terminator sign after a space and before the next literary word?
And I was not sure if I should use the literary comma (dot 2), or the literary comma with music signs (dot 6). This is for a comma following the time signature and before a regular literary word.
I am glad you referenced the Music Braille Code for additional questions I may have in the future. This looks like a helpful resource.
Susan
Hi Susan! I’ll jump in, too! Since there is a comma after the time signature, you’ll use the dot 6 literary comma. Follow this by a space and then use the music code terminator, dots 56, 23 directly before the next braille word – this switches back to UEB.
Kathleen
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